Peru’s Former President Fujimori Freed After 15 Years

Peru’s political landscape witnessed a seismic event as former President Alberto Fujimori, a highly divisive figure, was released from Lima’s Barbadillo prison after more than 15 years of incarceration.

The nation’s constitutional court reinstated a presidential pardon issued six years ago to the 85-year-old leader, prompting both celebrations and protests.

As Fujimori’s car left the prison, hundreds of supporters surrounded it, highlighting the deep divisions regarding his legacy.

He had been serving a 25-year prison sentence, convicted for corruption and human rights violations during his presidency from 1990 to 2000.

Alberto Fujimori’s rule is remembered by some as a time when he saved Peru from terrorism and economic collapse, while others view him as an authoritarian strongman who undermined democratic institutions to maintain power.

His crackdown on insurgencies led to the deaths of approximately 69,000 people, and he was later found guilty of bribery, abuse of power, and human rights abuses.

The release comes as a result of a pardon granted in December 2017 by then-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Health concerns, including low blood pressure and an abnormal heart rhythm, led to Fujimori being transferred from prison to a hospital.

Doctors claimed his illness was incurable, stating that continued imprisonment posed a “grave risk to his life.”

The contentious release of Fujimori raises questions about justice, accountability, and the complex legacy of a leader whose actions shaped Peru’s recent history.